Big III press for 11-state federal model

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

ITAHARI: To counter the Madhes-based parties protest against the agreement signed among the major parties to carve out the country into 11 federal units, the three big parties – CPN-Maoist, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML – have announced today their agitation to press for the implementation of the federal model.

District level leaders of the three major parties threatened that they would do every bit to federate Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts into one single state in the 11 federal units model.

They said it is both relevant and scientific to amalgamate the three districts into one state for the benefit the people.

Issuing a joint press release today in Itahari, leaders of the UCPN-Maoist, NC and CPN-UML said that they were elated with the 11 federal units model. In the statement, they warned of protest if 11-federal model was not executed in letter and spirit.

Activists of all three major parties took out torch rally in Itahari in favour of a separate state comprising Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari today evening.

In Jhapa, three parties said that one or two provinces in Madhes would not be acceptable to them. CPN-UML Jhapa chairperson Rabin Koirala said that they would organise protest rally in Jhapa to press for the 11-state model tomorrow.

District level leaders of the Maoist, NC and CPN-UML in Morang insisted that decision to federate a separate state comprising Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari was scientific. They urged the Madhes-based parties to extend their full cooperation.

CPN-UML Morang chairman Binod Dhakal said that they would organise mass meeting and demonstrations in Biratnagar to press for the implementation of 11-state federal model. He alleged of conspiracies being hatched to incorporate Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa with Madhes.